1955 Bentley

• Delivered new to The Shah of Iran
• Completely restored around twenty years ago
• Fitted with bucket seats and complete with its original larger seats
• One of the most popular colour combinations
• Fitted with rear wheel spats and automatic transmission
• Matching numbers
• Complete with extensive history
• One of the most famous R Type Continentals having been ordered by The Shah

The decision was taken in 1950 to develop a Bentley motor car capable of producing high maximum speeds ideal for Continental touring on the long straight roads of Europe. Although owned by Rolls Royce, there was a desire by some internal personnel to differentiate the more sporting Bentley brand from the conservative nature of its illustrious owner and to try and appeal to a younger affluent audience overseas who preferred driving their cars rather than sitting in the back. The higher speeds were to be coupled with correspondingly high rates of acceleration and excellent handling. To achieve these lofty ambitions a tremendous amount of research and testing were conducted using quarter scale models in the Hucknall wind tunnel. Extensive testing and alterations allowed Ivan Evernden and John Blatchley of the Motor Car Division to design a body not only of exceptional style, but also of an aerodynamic shape that reduced drag and achieved excellent levels of stability even at speeds of more than 100mph, using the fabled Embiricos Bentley as an inspiration.

By late summer of 1951 the drawings and scale models became reality with the creation of the prototype R Type Continental which in time became known as OLGA. Every weight saving opportunity was taken in the production of OLGA, with most of the car being crafted from lightweight aluminium. This included the body, window frames, bumpers and even the seat frames. In September of 1951 testing began in France under the supervision of Walter Sleator who was the managing director of Garage Franco-Britannique, the Rolls-Royce agent in Paris. Sleator was well qualified for such a task being an ex-racing driver.
The result of this extensive work led to the prototype car meeting its objective of reaching 120mph and being capable of cruising at 100mph with four passengers aboard. It was a happy bonus that the body shape, which was created in pursuit of strong aerodynamic performance, was also widely regarded as one of the most beautiful bodies to be fitted to a motor car as well.

Following extensive testing and refinements production began in early 1952. The R Type Continental was at the time the fastest production four-seater car in the world, capable of speeds of more than 100mph. The Continental chassis shared many similarities with the Mk VI and R Type chassis, sharing suspension, steering and brake components. However, the combination of the fitment of a high ratio back axle, the lightweight construction and the smaller sleeker body style resulted in performance that was far and beyond superior to any car Bentley had previously produced in the post war era.

The chassis were assembled in Crewe with the vast majority of the two hundred and eight chassis built then transported to London by train where they were fitted with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner of Chiswick, with all but fifteen cars fitted with their fastback bodies. The A, B and C series cars were fitted with 4.5 litre engines that displaced 4,566cc and produced 158bhp. In 1954 this was upgraded to 4,887cc when the cylinders were bored out on the D and E series cars. It was also the most expensive car in the world at the time, with domestic cars weighing in at just over £7,000. This iconic car attracted a selection of high profile and very wealthy buyers, from Shahs, to celebrities, to captains of business and industry, it was a rousing success.

Chassis No BC73D is the thirty-second of just thirty-nine Bentley R Type Continentals originally fitted with automatic transmission and is the penultimate D Series car that was built. It was originally completed in March of 1955, finished in Circassian blue with grey leather piped red and matching red carpets. It was originally supplied by Rolls-Royce Ltd to His Imperial Majesty the Shah of Iran, one of the wealthiest men in the world at that time due to Iran’s oil fields, but a man who fell from power some years later and fled his home country for America. The Shah had a taste for fine motor cars and over the years bought many stand out models, including this handsome Bentley R Type Continental. It was specified by the Shah to have the larger front seats, slit pockets to the doors, a coat of arms hand painted on each door, a speedometer in kilometres, an oil bath air cleaner and Continental bumpers.

He retained the car for just under five years and in January of 1960 the car passed to its second owner Charles Berry. A decade later it was sold to its third owner, Phebe B Healey of Miami Beach in Florida. The following year it was acquired by William Brewster of Daytona Beach and some years later it found its way to the collection at The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida. By this time, the car had fallen into a state of considerable disrepair, with a torn interior, worn mechanics and coachwork that had deteriorated.

In early 2006 Chassis No BC73D was purchased by Frank Dale through an intermediary in the United States and shipped back to London for appraisal. It was then supplied to the present owner and restored for him by us to his preferred specification. This included the addition of rear wheel spats and chrome strips along the base of the coachwork. The original front seats were also removed and retained, to be replaced by a set of lightweight bucket seats. The livery was changed to black with a tan interior and the car was restored both mechanically and cosmetically to show standard with no stone left unturned.

Since then, the car has been regularly used but correctly maintained by the present owner, with the car still driving and presenting beautifully almost twenty years on from its one and only restoration. It comes with chassis cards, extensive documentation, photos of the car prior to and during the restoration, plus its tools and handbook. This very handsome R Type Continental comes fully prepared and with a back story that few could match.